Pope says religions’ response to natural disasters builds peace

(August 03, 2012) Pope Benedict XVI has sent his blessing to an interreligious peace meeting in Japan saying the response of religions to natural disasters will lead to greater solidarity and mutual help. Archbishop Pier Luigi Celata, the vice-camerlengo or chamberlain of the Apostolic Chamber and former Secretary of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue read the Pope’s message at the Buddhist Temple of Mount Hiei where the 25^th Interreligious Gathering of Prayer for World Peace is taking place, August 3-4. “The commitment to the cause of peace by religious leaders is of the greatest importance and I am happy to learn that, thanks to your efforts, the Summit on Mount Hiei has become a major annual event that contributes effectively to dialogue between people of different beliefs,” said the Pope in the message sent to the temple’s high priest by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. The Pope said he was confident that the work of the Summit and the Symposium studying the response of religious leaders to natural disasters would lead to greater solidarity and mutual help.
Speaking from the Christian perspective, the Pope said that “the love given lo those who suffer is a reflection of the divine charity of God who so loved the world that he sent his only Son Jesus Christ.” In this regard he recalled the last year’s earthquake and tsunami in north-east Japan and the harrowing consequences for the whole nation. But he said “it was heartening to learn of the effective role of religious leaders in offering hope and support, as well as counsel and solace, to all those suffering.” “The tragic event also shows how people of different beliefs can cooperate with one another for the good of the human person,” the Pope added.